10 Best Follow Me Drones

Maybe you find it a bit spooky to have a flying robot hovering over your shoulder. I know some people do. But no one can deny that this is no longer the stuff of science fiction. It’s so cool it’s beyond belief.

Civilian drone technology keeps getting better and more exciting with each new development. You’ll already know something about the drones that follow you if you’ve been keeping up with the times.

The buffs’ call them by their proper name: UAV, short for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. For the most part we’ll simply refer to them as drones, follow me drones, and auto follow drones.

Auto Follow Drones in a Nutshell

No… these are not some kind of robotic pets. That said, it’s easy to become overly fond of a faithful follow me drone. But the real benefits of these flying cameras are in videography and personal filming.

Never before have we been able to record such graphic, quality video and stills of our lives. It’s great fun, it’s artistic and it’s wonderful for posterity. No one can be unimpressed with modern drones.

As complex as newer crafts are, most are super easy to handle with a little practice. It’s certainly easier to teach your drone new tricks than it is an old dog.

What is an 'auto follow drone' exactly?

The name sums it up pretty well. It indicates that unmanned flying machines track their pilots. The smart technology locks onto the subject and then follows them wherever they go.

You can’t do two things at once—right? The freedom of an auto-follow drone means the subject (probably you) can get on with the action without having to navigate the craft. How smart is that?

These drones will track any moving or stationary person, animal, or thing as per your instructions. Here are just a few popular uses for drones that follow you:

Trekking

Cycling

Running

Skiing

Surfing

What you track has no limits other than your imagination. And if you or the thing you’re tracking stops moving, the drone stops too and simply hovers until you take off.

How do drones track their subject?

There are currently two types of flight tracking:

GPS Transmitter/GSC

Follow Me Recognition Technology

The drone’s intelligent flight mode turns it into a sort of hands-free camera crew. The popular tracking technology is a Ground Station Controller or GSC, with a ‘Follow Me’ GPS transmitter.

Newer technology uses a special recognition type of software. Whatever the tracking technology is, the goal is always the same and that is to follow the subject.

GPS Transmitter/GSC: No drone has the ability to actually see you or the thing you want it to track. This means you need a GPS device and a wearable transmitter, smartphone or GSC, etc.

Once you’ve paired the subject with the drone the fun begins. The drone then latches onto the transmitter and follows whatever you’ve programmed it to track.

Drone Follow Me Recognition Technology: This is the latest tracking technology and uses special sensors and software algorithms. It follows the subject without having to rely on GPS trackers. The drone has to fly around you a couple of times to collect data. Once it’s stored that data, it latches on to you and follows as per your instructions.

The technology is highly-sophisticated but easy to work with.

How fast can a follow-me drone fly?

There are speed restrictions with civilian drones. Still, you don’t have to worry about those here. The average speed of the follow-you drones in this guide is around 39 mph (63 km/h).

What distance can these drones follow at?

Auto follow drone distances will vary depending on the manufacturer, model and technology. My advice is to keep the distance short and sensible unless you have reasons otherwise.

You don’t want to create too much space between the drone and its subject. This could result in a lost connection. The drone might even crash if you’re a long way from home.

My advice is to work at close distances, at least until you become familiar with your UAV.

How safe are fly me drones?

At the time of writing this guide most Follow Me drones on the market don’t have any kind of object avoidance software. A few do, but most don’t. This is another reason to take things slowly at the start.

Get familiar and become confident with your drone and its technology before you get too ambitious. It’s always a good idea to practice in wide open spaces.

Plan your routes carefully and be mindful of any obstacles along the way. You may be able to note the height of potential obstructions and then program your drone to fly above that height for added safety.

Be mindful of your battery life and any warning indicators. You don’t want to run out of flying power before you’re even halfway done.

Okay, that’s our introductions into auto-follow drones, tracking technology, and my top 10 picks. I’ll now break them down for you starting with models under $500.

FOLLOW ME DRONES UNDER $500

Follow-me drones under $500 can provide as much flight time, speed, and distance as some of the more expensive crafts. They may fall short in the quality of materials used, optical quality and range of features. These are not things that’ll bother anyone at the entry level too much. My top picks in this price category present four exceptional value drones that follow you. They’ll give you lots of pleasure and record all your happy memories with very acceptable results.

2. 3DR Solo

They call this the first follow me drone with a brain—surprising considering the low cost. It’s a unique looking machine that has two computers to enhance its performance.

The 3DR Solo is another great entry level drone just like the budget-priced Hubsan above. The intuitive controls are exactly what a newbie needs to get to grips with their debut flight.

If you’re used to video game controllers you’ll take to the 3DR Solo’s controls like a duck to water the second you pick them up.

What I like about this drone is that it can be as simple as you need it to be, yet you can also be really creative in your filming. The only downside is that you need to invest in your own GoPro Camera.

Intelligent control modes make things easy. You’ve got: Follow Me, Selfie, Orbit mode, and Cable Cam. The smart computer system gives you control over distance, angle and changes in perspective.

You have some cool features to explore with this drone. And as far as I know, it’s currently the only one on the market that streams wireless HD vid from the GoPro directly to Android/iOS devices.

4. Yuneec Breeze 4k

The Yuneec Breeze is an average looking drone with a lot more going for it than appearances. If you want a quiet, compact auto follow drone that’s easy to fly—you’ve got it. This is a real fun craft to own.

After a few flights you’ll realize this drone is as capable as many others at twice the size and price. The Breeze costs about $100 more than the first two picks but you get a lot of bang for your buck.

The five automated flight modes work seamlessly and include: Pilot, Journey, Orbit, Selfie and VisionTrack. And the HD camera delivers results that are simply amazing.

If you happened to lose the signal, your Yuneec Breeze will automatically return to home. That’s assuming it has enough power remaining (see below).

The only reason the Yuneec Breeze didn’t make the top slot in this price range is because it falls short in three key areas. It has a poor maximum flight time, limited control range, and slow speed.

These things combined will frustrate those of you who want to make more ambitious, creative filming. For shorter uses and general recording, though, this is a wonderful, well-built drone for this category.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDgW-Jn3iWA

Tech Specs

Weight: 385g (13.6 oz.)

Battery: 2 3s batteries rated at 1140 mA

Charging Time: 30 minutes

Control Range: > 100 meters (328 ft.)

Max Flight Time: 12 minutes

Max Speed: 5 m/s (11 mph)

The Pros

Compact and lightweight

Stands up to crashes pretty well

Easy photo and vide sharing

Good Intelligent flight modes

Great value-for-money drone

Intuitive Breeze App

Return-to-home safety feature

The Cons

Short battery life

Slow flight speed

Low flight range

OK, that brings us on to the next category, follow you drones less than $1000

FOLLOW YOU DRONES UNDER $1000

I’ve listed two follow me drones in the $500-$1000 price range. These are flying machines for the more serious hobbyist. The overall build is more robust and the range of features tends to be better than the cheaper models. Expect some neat flight intelligent modes too.

5. DJI Mavic Pro

If you’re into small powerful follow me drones then consider the DJI Mavic Pro. When folded up it’s not much bigger than a jar of coffee. This is a great little machine for serious videographers and photographers.

The DJI Mavic Pro is a simple craft to master despite its sophistication and professional appeal. Its Tripod Mode is child’s play. All you do is follow whatever the app instructs you to do. That’s it!

This UAV has so much going on that some call it the Swiss army knife of drones. But don’t let its power, elegance and impressive features overwhelm you. It really is a very user-friendly craft.

DJI Mavic Pro is one of the few machines that have obstacle avoidance built in. Although it’s a great feature, remember that the drone can only see what’s in front of it, not behind or at either side.

The advanced gimbal settings let you take full control of the gimbal tilt wheel to ensure you get the smoothest footage out of all your movements.

Compared to a lot of powerful drones the flying time of the DJI Mavic Pro is impressive. You get something like 30 minutes under optimal conditions. Some drones only give you 10-12 minutes.

To sum up the DJI Mavic Pro, you have 4K ultra HD distortion-free video, long flying range, and a decent flight time. There’s also obstacle avoidance, precision hover and image stabilization.

Like any drone, the DJI Mavic Pro is not without a few downsides. The smaller size—though appealing to many—can be a turn off for others. It’s also more difficult to keep an eye on it.

The DJI Mavic Pro is a tough little machine but it’s not so good against blustery winds. This is something to think about if you’re a professional who needs to shoot outdoors against tight deadlines.

But overall, the size and portability of this auto follow craft makes it a surefire winner. It’s certainly a popular choice for serious hobbyists and professionals with a thousand bucks to spare.

This is likely the best Aerial Videography Hexacopter you’ll find right now for under $1000.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6F5Z8eV9yQ

Tech Specs

Weight: 1950g (4.3 lbs.)

Battery: 4S 14.8V LiPo Battery (POWER 4)

Charging Time: 1 hr 50 minutes plus

Control Range: > 1.6 km (1 mile)

Max Flight Time: 25 minutes

Max Speed: 19.4 m/s (43.5 mph)

The Pros

Six-rotor design

Rotating 360° 4K video camera

Raw and JPG image capture

Modular design

Advanced gimbal settings

Can carry heavier payloads

Retractable landing gear

Good operating range

Includes obstacle avoidance

Supports dual-operator control

Online community support

The Cons

Price tag

Comes down too fast

Quite heavy

FOLLOW YOU DRONES UNDER $2000

Makers of follow me drones between $1000-$2000 target the prosumer level. These are high-quality machines with lots of bells and whistles to boot. My tip here is to only invest in one of these awesome auto-follow drones if you really need what they offer. Always know what it is you want to achieve as it will help you make the right decision.

7. DJI Phantom 4 PRO

The first of my picks in the under $2000 category is the DJI Phantom 4 PRO. It’s one of the last in the prosumer line of auto follow drones and a very worthy contender.

It’s just outside entry-level considerations, not because it’s too complicated but because it’s hard to justify the cost for a first drone. It’s a well sought after machine for enthusiasts and serious users.

Despite the bells and whistles this craft is almost ready to go out of the box. Flight modes include Follow Me, GPS Waypoints, Point of Interest, Gesture Mode, Course Lock, and Return to Home.

The DJI Phantom 4 PRO comes equipped with obstacle detection and collision avoidance. This means safer flying in general, but it’s particularly useful for shooting close to the ground and inside buildings.

Compared to its predecessor—the Phantom 3 Pro—the flying dynamics and overall performance have all seen an upgrade. It might even be the most cutting-edge flying camera around right now.

The tech specs below highlight some of the other impressive features of this super drone.

8. 3D Robotics Iris+

Many call this drone the pilot’s dream. Once you unpack the 3D Robotics Iris+ it’s just a case of attaching the propellers and charging the battery. That’s about it; you’re ready to take to the skies.

This craft will please both the experienced user and the complete novice. If you want it as an amazing auto-follow drone, though, the 3D Robotics Iris+ isn’t ready out of the box.

To exploit all the follow-me features you have to invest in a gimbal and a GoPro Hero3+ camera. You’ll also need a First Person View (FPV) system if you want to see recordings while the drone is airborne.

With these extras included you still have a very powerful and capable drone for the money. This is a very smart UAV that uses an advanced processor and state-of-the-art sensor technology.

The built-in data radio, flight protection feature, long flight times and flexible camera options add further to this multicopter’s overall appeal.

The drone flies smoothly and is notably stable. This allows you to create amazing videos and sharp photos. All things considered, the 3D Robotics Iris+ is as a sound investment.

9. AirDog Sport Action

The name should grab the attention of sports enthusiasts if nothing else. The AirDog Sport Action Drone is your faithful companion for action sports such as cycling, surfing, sailing and so on.

The drone comes with a wearable controller—AirLeash—that has a Gyro Stabilized Gimbal. It’s simple to use and gives you plenty of Sport Flight modes with new ones in the pipeline all the time.

Anyone who’s serious about capturing fast action—and particularly sports—will want to take a serious look at the only drone currently built for this purpose.

Using this drone is a doddle once you get used to it. It’s also simple to store away and carry to events. The specially designed arms tuck in easily making it more compact and safe from accidental damage.

One of the great features of the Airdog is that it’s capable of flying in winds of up to 28 knots. It can do this at an impressive range of 820 ft. from the waterproof AirLeash wrist unit.

This is an auto-follow action drone optimized for use with GoPro 3, 3+, or 4 cameras (not included). All things considered, there’s not much to compete with the AirDog for recording action sports.

Tech Specs

Weight: 1987g (4.38 lbs.)

Battery: Lithium-ion polymer, 5600 mAh

Charging Time: 180 minutes (3 hrs.)

Control Range: > 250 meters (273 yards)

Max Flight Time: 18 minutes

Max Speed: 17.8 m/s (40 mph)

The Pros

Almost fully autonomous

Easily foldable

Extremely easy-to-operate

Lots of intelligent sports modes

Programmable safety landing

Precision tracking

No need for piloting skills

Waterproof remote control

The Cons

High price tag

No camera included

Not ideal for indoor use

No collision detection system

FOLLOW YOU DRONES OVER $2000

I’ve only included one follow me drone in the over $2000 category. This is the last of the prosumer tracking drones. It offers high-quality zoom optics and an unlimited control range among other things. You’ll either want this drone or have no need for it and choose one of the more affordable options.

10. Walkera Voyager 4

They market the Walkera Voyager 4 as a prosumer (advanced enthusiasts) follow me drone. The upgraded model stands out from the pack because it has an 18x optical telephoto zoom lens.

With its mega zoom lens the Walkera Voyager 4 is a different beast, but why bother? Well, it means you can zoom in on people, places, things, and events from quite a long way off. This might cause some privacy issues later, especially as you can control this drone from anywhere in the world.

However, these are not things that really interest the follow me drone enthusiast. You don’t have to worry—the Walkera Voyager 4 has a standard lens version with stunning 4K UHD video.

This is a high-quality drone with a sleek look. Even the controller is a beautiful ergonomic design with quality rubber grips for comfortable handling. Few could fault its design or its functionality.

Final Words

This concludes my top ten follow-me drone picks for now. There are others, but these are the most sought after and most praised auto follow drones in their price range.

The exciting new Follow Me Technology is more than just a fad—it’s a way of life for many. It’s certainly widened the appeal of drones with the freedom, flexibility, and ease of use.

Once you start to record your life events with your own drone you’ll probably wonder how you ever managed without it. It’s going to be similar to the mobile phone revolution that kicked off in the 1990s.

I’ll revise this guide periodically when there is something new to write about that deserves attention. Please bookmark this page and check back for updates.

3D Insider is a participant in the Amazon Affiliate Program. We may earn money from your clicks, at no extra cost for you. We are also affiliates of numerous other programs. Outbound clicks may earn the site money.

Joseph Flynt

I love diving into the latest and greatest in emerging technologies and seeing what they can do. I enjoy running when I'm not thinking about tech.